Folding tent



March 1, 1960 G. R. KLEINAU FOLDING TENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15,1957 FIG."I

FIG.- 3

INVENTOR GLENN R. KLEINAU ATTORNEY March 1, 1960 Filed Nov. 15, 1957FlG.-4

G. R. KLEINAU FOLDING TENT 2 Sheets-'Sheet 2 INVENTOR GLENN R. KLEINAU BY y W ATTO R N EY United States Patent FOLDING TENT Glenn R. Kleinau,Chattanooga, Tenn. Application November 15, 1957, Serial No. 696,870 Q 6Claims. (Cl.135 -4) This invention relates to a tent and moreparticularly to a tent of a tepee type having novel means for fasteningtogether the tent poles and for holding the poles in a spread-apartposition when the tent is in use.

One object of this invention is to provide a tent having tent polespivotally attached to each other in a simple and inexpensive mannersuchthat the tent may be readily folded or opened for use.

Another object is to provide a tent having simple but effective meansfor holding the tent polesin spread-apart position when the tent is inuse. p 1

Otherobjects of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich: i

Fig. l is a perspective view of one embodiment of a tent made inaccordance with this invention, with the cover broken away to show thespreader in place;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the top part of one of the poles formingapart of'the tent;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan viewof the plate used for pivotally holdingthe poles togetherat their tops, with a disc attached to the plate tohold the poles outwardly so that the plate is held in place in the polegrooves;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the top part of a modified form of pole;and

Fig. 5' is an enlarged plan view of the plate used for pivotally holdingtogether at their tops the poles of the modified form shown in Fig. 4,in a modified manner.

In the drawings, the tent consists of a plurality of tent poles 1,ofwhich at least three must be used, six being illustrated in Fig. 1'. ThecoverZ, of suitablefiexible material, such as paper, canvas or otherfabric, plastic or other material, is supported by the tent poles 1 andpreferably is attached thereto in some suitable manner, as by anadhesive, snap fasteners, tacks or staples, the

cover having a suitable opening 3 for extrance into the tent. The tentpoles may be of any desired cross section, such as round, square orrectangular, but are illustrated as being rectangular, for a purpose tobe described hereinafter. As shown in Fig. 2, each of the tent poleshas, near its top, a groove 4 cut therein for a purpose to be described,the groove being on the side of the tent pole intended to be turnedoutwardly.

On the inner side of the tent pole is a position substantially below thelocation of the groove 4, there is located a series of fastening devicesto one of which a rigid interior spreader is adapted to be attached forthe purpose of holding the tent poles. in outwardly extended positions.These fastening devices may consist of small stops, hooks, or clips,forming a part of or attached to the pole, or any other means which willhold the spreader in position. In the form illustrated in the drawings,the fastening devices consist of a series of notches 5 cut in the innersides of the tent poles.

A novel means for pivotally holding the poles together at their tops isillustrated in Fig. 3. This means consists of a plate 6 having therein aplurality of openings 7, equally spaced in a circle, there being anumber of openopenings 7 are radially disposed rectangles, asillustrated. I When the poles are passed through the openings, they arepositioned with portions of the plate 6 adjacent the openings receivedinthe grooves 4 in the poles. The

grooves 4 are of greater width, or height, than the thickness of theplate 6, so that the poles 1 and the plate 6 may be pivoted relative toeach other.

Various means may be employed to hold the polesin 7 positions withportions of the plate 6 engaged in the grooves 4 of the poles. 'Forexample, in Fig. 3, there is shown a circular disc 8 of such radiusthat, when in place,

the disc will hold the poles outwardly a sufiicient extent to preventthe portions of the plate 6 from coming out of the grooves 4 of thepoles. The plate 6 and the disc 8 may be made of sheet metal, in whichcase the disc may be held in place on the plate by means of a sheetmetal screw 9. The screw 9 may be replaced by a bolt and nut, especiallyif the plate and disc are made of other materials. The arrangement ofthe parts is such that the poles 1 may be pivoted relative to the plate6 in opening or folding the tent, without the: poles becoming separatedfrom the plate. When the poles have been assembled in place in theplate, with the disc 8 held onto the plate and the cover 2 on the poles,the poles may be spread apart to form a tent.

After the poleshave been spread apart, they are held in extendedposition by means of the rigid interior spreader already mentioned,which may be a disc, a ring or hoop,

or a plate with as many sides as the tent has, with" parallel to thebase plane of the tent, to force the poles apart, until it engages oneof the notches 5 in each of the poles which'give's the desired extent ofspread of the tent.

The hoop is then rested in those notches and holds the tent in extendedposition. The cover 2 prevents the tent from being extended too far andtends to holdthe poles inwardly, with the spreader hoop'10 firmlyengaged in one of the notches 5 on each pole.

A modified form of the pole is shown in Fig. 4, in which there is showna pole 11 having the interior notches 5 corresponding to the notches 5in the pole 1, but in which the groove is formed in the inner side ofthe pole, the groove being designated by the numeral 14. As shown inFig. 5, in this modification, after the poles 1 1 are passed through theopenings 7 in the plate 6, the poles are forced inwardly, with portionsof the plate 6 adjacent to the openings 7 passing into the grooves 14 inthe poles. The poles may be held in this inward position by means of acord 15 secured around each of the poles, alternately above and belowthe plate 6, the ends of the cord being tied together tightly, as at 16,to hold the poles all inwardly toward each other.

Although, as indicated above, the poles maybe made of any desired crosssection, the form illustrated is rectangular. This form enables the useof a pole which is very thin, light in weight and inexpensive, but whichwould tend to turn sideways and drop out of the plate 6 with roughhandling. Since the shapes of the openings 7 are the same as the shapesof the poles, the openings 7 prevent the poles from becoming twisted andmaintain them in position, at the same time permitting the poles topivot inwardly and outwardly.

If desired, in place of having the groove 4 on the outer side of thepole or the groove 14 on the inner side of thepole, the groovemay be onone or both-of the lateral sides of the pole, the adjacent portions ofthe plate being held in the grooves by means of a cord tied in asuitable manner, or by other means.

In the use. of the tent,. the poles arenormally left in place intheplate. 6, being held therein by the appropriate means used, and thecover. 2 is at all times left attached to the poles. All that isrequiredto set up the tent is to spread the poles apart and push thehoop 10 upwardly until it engages one of. the series of grooves 5 in thepoles, which will hold the poles in outwardly extended position, thecover preventing the poles from spreading too far apart when the ring ispushed up against the pole. When it is desired to take the tent down,all that is necessary is to remove the hoop and' pull the polestogether, without separating the cover from the poles, or the poles fromthe plate 6.

This tent can be set up Without requiring any fastening to the ground orto the floor, so that it can be set up at.any place. where there issuflicient space available for the spread of the poles. Of course, itcan be moved from one position to another after it is set up merely bypicking it up and moving it. It can be set up inside a house on any kindof floor, with any kind of floor covering, or outside on any kind ofsurface, such as earth, lawn; or concrete.

This construction of tent eliminates a center pole, or a pole in thecenter of the door, leaving the whole interior of the tent unobstructed.

Since no pegs or ropes are needed, this tent eliminates tripping oversuch pegs or ropes, or having them pulled out and the tent falling orsagging until they are replaced.

The entire construction of this tent has a flexibility which makes itvery durable and able to Withstand rough handling without damage. On theother hand, the tent does not injure a child should the child fallagainst it.

As pointed out above, the number'of poles to be used can be varied fromthree up to any practical number. The materials from which the cover,poles, plate, disc and ring are made can also be varied without changingthe construction of the tent. It will also be possible to make the coverso that it would be removable without changing the nature of the tent.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the invention, without departing from the spirit and scopethereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which isshown in the drawings and describedv in the specification, but-only asindicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A folding tent comprising at least three poles rectangular in crosssection, each having a transverse groove formed therein adjacent itsupper end, a plate having therein a plurality of circularly disposedopenings of rectangular cross section extending radially equal in numberto and adapted to receive the poles, portions of said plate adjacentsaid openings being receivable in said grooves, said grooves being widerthan the thickness of said plate to permit pivotal motion of said polesrelative to said plate, means for holding said poles in the positions inwhich said plate is engaged in said grooves and a flexible coverattached to said poles.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which the grooves are in theouter surfaces of the poles and the means for holding the plate engagedin the grooves consists of a disc attached to the plate.

3; The invention according to claim 1 in which the means for holding theplate engaged in the grooves consists of a cord secured. around thepoles and holding them against the plate with the plate engaged in thegrooves.

4. The invention according to claim 1 in which the grooves are in theinner surfaces of the poles and the means for holding the plate engagedin the grooves consists of a cord secured around the poles and holdingthem radially inwardly.

5. The invention according to claim 1 in which a rigid interior spreaderring and a series of notches cut inthe inner surfaces of the polesengageable by the spreader ring are provided to hold the tent poles inspread-apart position. V

6. A folding tent comprising a plate provided with. a plurality ofopenings, a plurality of poles each having the upper end portion thereofextending through one of said openings, each pole having formed thereinadjacent its upper end a transverse groove wider than the thickness ofsaid plate loosely embracing a portion of said plate in a hingedconnection, means for holding said poles in positions in which saidplate is engaged in said grooves and aflexible cover attached to saidpoles.

References Cited in the file of. this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

